aWhen carpenter Mike Rodrian decided to build a $40,000 shed on his land, he had no idea his project would become the subject of a heated political debate.
Although he attained the necessary building permits, the Department of Natural Resources told Rodrian he had to tear down his shed because it was built on wetlands.
According to Rodrian, construction workers drilled 65 feet deep before hitting water. Rodrian also said the DNR visited the site, but approximately 13 weeks passed before the DNR tried contacting him. By that time, the shed was already under construction.
In response to complaints like Rodrian's, Republican senators Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, Alan Lasee, R-DePere, and Dave Zien, R-Wheaton, announced the formation of a Senate Select Committee to investigate the DNR. Lasee will chair the committee, which will travel statewide to hear testimonies from Wisconsin citizens.
Jen Esser, spokesperson for Lasse, said the DNR receives more complaints than any other state agency. Since the formation of the committee, Lasse's website is now equipped with a link for Wisconsin residents to send in their complaints.
Esser said there are 'a number of people who have fought long court battles with the DNR totaling several thousand dollars of their own hard-earned money to defend their property.'
Rodrian said the DNR's solution to his problem is to have his shed moved to a wooded part of his land, in which he would have to cut down several trees. Rodrian estimates it would cost him $30,000 to move his shed.
According to Zien, there are 'a multitude of cases where there seems to be inconsistencies and double standards,' and the DNR has enforced actions 'beyond the scope of their authority.'
Zien said the committee would research past actions of the DNR and attempt to improve the agency.
However, state Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said he believes the Republicans have another agenda'to win votes.
'The Republicans always make the DNR a target when there is an election season coming up because it enforces a wide range of regulations, and sometimes people don't like them,' Black said.
Although Black concedes the DNR has been the target of criticism, he said this is true of any state agency. According to Black, Republicans are generalizing these few instances of error.
Bruce Nilles, Midwest Sierra Club representative said, 'I think it's unfortunate that they are attacking the DNR rather than focusing on how we fix the problems we have in the state.'
